duckboards

Duckboards are narrow, slatted wooden boards laid on wet or uneven ground to create a dry, stable walking surface. They are typically arranged as a continuous path of interlinked boards with gaps between them, which allow drainage and air flow. Duckboards can be laid directly on the ground or supported by a frame, and they are used in trenches, marshy areas, temporary camps, and other damp environments where foot comfort and footing are a concern.

Historically, duckboards gained prominence in World War I trench warfare, where long runs of boards were laid along trenches to keep feet dry and reduce trench foot in mud-wracked terrain. The concept predates the war and appears in civilian use as well, but the association with muddy front-line trenches is a defining feature in many accounts.

In civilian and contemporary uses, duckboards appear in flood-prone zones, disaster relief setups, camping grounds, and some outdoor installations where a temporary dry walkway is needed. Materials have evolved from untreated timber to treated timber, and increasingly include plastic or metal variants that resist weathering.

Etymology and alternatives: The name likely refers to the boards’ function in wet conditions similar to how ducks move through water, but the exact origin is unclear. In modern contexts, duckboards are often replaced by more durable boardwalk systems.